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''Escadrille 3'' ''Les Cigognes'' ('The Storks') was a famous French aviation unit during the World War I. It was often referred to as the 'Stork Escadrille N3'〔Thenault, Georges, and Walter Duranty. ''(The Story of the Lafayette Escadrille Told by Its Commander, Captain Georges Thenault )''. Boston: Small, Maynard & Co, 1921, p. 93.〕 due to its insignia. Pilots from Groupe de Combat 12 adopted the name and placed images of storks in different phases of flying on their planes.〔Guttman, Jon. Groupe ''De Combat 12, Les Cigognes: France's Ace Fighter Group in World War 1''. Oxford: Osprey, 2004. 〕 ==History== Escadrille 3 was formed in July 1912 at Avord as ''Escadrille B13'', equipped with Bleriots. It began World War I with the Bleriots; however, on 18 March 1915, it was re-equipped with Morane-Saulnier machines and redesignated ''Escadrille MS3''. Capitaine Felix Brocard assumed command on 28 April 1915. By 20 September, it had once again re-equipped, this time with Nieuport scouts; its new designation was ''Escadrille N3''.〔Franks, Bailey 1992, p. 89.〕 On 16 April 1916, the unit had been amalgamated into ''Groupement de Combat de la Somme'', along with ''Escadrille N26'', ''Escadrille N73'', and ''Escadrille N103''. ''Escadrille N37'', ''Escadrille N62'', and ''Escadrille N65'' were also temporarily assigned to the ''Groupement''; the seven units were placed under command of Brocard. On 16 June 1916, Capitaine Alfred Heurtaux took command of ''Escadrille N3''. In September 1916, the Commanding General of the VI Armee commended the unit for having downed 38 enemy aircraft and three observation balloons between 18 March and 18 August 1916.〔 On 1 November 1916, the temporary ''Groupement'' of the four original units was formalized as ''Groupe de Combat 12''; it became more commonly known as ''les Cigognes'' (the storks). Once again, ''Escadrille N3'' was cited, this time by Marshal Ferdinand Foch, for scoring victories over 36 enemy aircraft between 19 August and 19 November 1916. The following March, it would be again cited, this time for downing 128 enemy machines. The ''escadrille'' subsequently re-equipped with SPADs, becoming ''Escadrille Spa3''.〔 On 5 December 1918, ''Escadrille Spa3'' was cited for the fourth time. This time it was credited with the destruction of 175 enemy aircraft, and the disabling of an additional 100. This fourth citation also entitled the ''escadrille'' to the fourragere of the ''Médaille militaire'', and of the ''Croix de Guerre''.〔 The heritage of the ''escadrille'' continues in the present day French air force; it is represented by the bottom bird on the EC 1/2 Squadron emblem. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Escadrille 3」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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